Chase Changes Ahead?

The "Chase for the NEXTEL Cup" format looks like it's in store for some changes on the eve of its fourth birthday.

NASCAR will reportedly make changes to the championship system for the 2007 season including expanding the field from ten drivers and adding more points for victories.

NASCAR's Jim Hunter told USA Today the sanctioning body was indeed going to make changes and that "we're running the models" before finalizing the modifications.

An official announcement is expected to come on January 22, the first day of the annual NEXTEL Cup Series Media Tour hosted by Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

NASCAR managing director for corporate communications Ramsey Poston told The Charlotte Observer, "We don’t think there's anything new here. As Jim Hunter said, we are still looking at various models. We’ve said that among other things, we are looking at possibly adding more points and at the number of participants."

NASCAR CEO Brian France hinted last July that changes to the "Chase" format could come this season, but as recently as November at Texas Motor Speedway he told media members NASCAR was pleased with the status quo.